A True Witness [Archive] - Tzaddikim Discussion Forums

hyssop

02-15-2002, 08:20 PM

Who is a true witness?[Luke 24:46 KJV] And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: [47] And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. [48] And ye are witnesses of these things.Was the preaching of repentance and remission of sins just for Paul and the disciples of his day? What are we, as believers, supposed to be doing today?

simcha

02-16-2002, 09:02 AM

First of all we have to look at what repentence is, a turning away from sin and turning back to Hashem. As far as I can see, we can only repent from sin. So what is sin? Sin comes from the root word

H2398. chata, [306c]; a prim. root; to miss, go wrong, sin:-- bear blame(m)(2), bewildered(1), bore loss(1), bring sin(1), cleanse(5), cleansed(1), cleansing(1), commit(2), commits sin(1), committed(21), committed sin(m)(1), done wrong(1), errs(1), fault(1), fear loss(1), forfeits(m)(1), indicted(m)(1), miss(1), not reach(m)(1), offended(1), offered for sin(1), offers for sin(1), purged(1), purified(3), purify(6), purify from uncleanness(3), sin(m)(56), sinful(1), sinned(87), sinner(7), sinning(4), sins(23).

Sin is missing the mark of Torah, which we all do at some time. Therefore all need to hear the message of repentence.

Ezek 14:6 "Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn your faces away from all your abominations.

Ezek 18:32 "For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent and live."

Rev 2:16 'Repent therefore; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth.
17 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.'

Now, for your question. Was the preaching of repentence and remission of sins just for Paul and the desciples of his day. Let's look at the following verse.

Acts 11:20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.

As we can see, these were not the "disciples", but they were the deiciples of Paul. It is the trickle down theory. Paul taught and made desciples of those he taught, they did the same, and etc. As we can see the hand of the Lord was with them. Therefore I believe as believers today we should be doing the same, first of all by our actions (being different or separate) so that others see our fruit and will ask what it is that makes us different, then by being ready (having studied diligently) to share the truth of repentence and salvation with them, and make disciples of them.

Simcha

cook

02-16-2002, 05:01 PM

Hello Simcha and all,

Simcha quoted:

Acts 11:20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who came to Antioch and began speaking to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus.
21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.

When I study these verses, I am led to the beginning of the chapter. Acts 11 is all about the vision Peter had about the gentiles not being common. The conclusion in verse 18 is: "Yah had granted to the Gentiles repentance to life". Then in verse 19 the disciples that were scattered abroad from Jerusalem after Stephens persecution, preached (probably where they settled) to only the Jews. And others of these same scattered Disciples (Greek speaking disciples) were scattered to Antioch and spoke to the greeks proclaiming Yahshua as Messiah.

This ordeal with the Greeks caused a stir of sorts in Jerusalem, when the called out ones heard of it. So they sent Barnabas to check it out, and of course, noticed Yah's hand was involved and he exhorted them to remain faithful.

Then in verse 27 prophets came from Yerusalem and prophesied.

This is the very beginning of the start of the congregations of the gentiles. The whole book of acts is filled with incredible acts of power. Power, of which we now see little of.

I'm not saying that we shouldn't preach Messiah; but how many countries have you been sent to by Yah? Where has he scattered you to? Scriptures do indicate another time that this will happen (2 witnessess are probably to assemblies or at least supported by 2 assemblies) (smyrna and philadelphia).

When you consider the word "witness" it is someone who has WITNESSED AND ACTUAL OCCURANCE. All of the Apostles were eye witnesses of not only Messiah's service, but of his resurrection. Probably all of those scattered disciples from Jerusalem mentioned in acts 11:20 had at least seen and heard him. (although they weren't called witnesses) But if I stood up in an assembly and declared myself a witness of the Word, I would be a false witness, because I wasn't there. The best I can do is LIVE ACCORDING TO THE LAW, and BE A WITNESS OF THE RESULTS OF KEEPING THE LAW; BUT THERE ARE MANY THINGS I NEED TO DO TO BE IN FULL COMPLIANCE. SO FIRST THINGS FIRST. I've given many "presentations" to assemblies before, and hopefully have exhorted a few to search out the Word; but I'm not sent throughout all the world as the "early disciples" were.

Today, 2000 years later, we still have the inspired words of the men who saw the actual fact and who were taught by the actual Messiah. This is the best and most pure gospel (message) that has been published, heralded and proclaimed throughout the ends of the earth.

rivkah

02-16-2002, 05:16 PM

We are all witnesses. Avraham was a witness, and Pharoah was a witness.

hyssop

02-17-2002, 10:06 AM

Hello all,

I just got back from my Sunday morning Hebrew lesson and am going to attempt to get a couple of posts up today. I have not historically been one to make a lot of posts but do spend a quite a bit of time reading people's thoughts and keeping the board updated. I've still got a lot of work to do here (e.g. working on Forum Rules, updating the home page, etc).

On the topic of "witnesses," a couple of things come to mind:

[Heb 12:1 KJV] Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,Who were these witnesses? Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sara, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab . . .[Heb 11:32 KJV] And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:Hashem has given the world many witnesses. Messiah, too, left witnesses behind.

From prison, Paul wrote to Timothy. Perhaps, expecting that he may not have further opportunity to preach the gospel, Paul told Timothy to teach to others the message that he and the other witnesses had been teaching:[2 Tim 2:1 KJV] Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in [Messiah].[2] And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.[3] Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of [Messiah].What was the witness? What were they teaching? To be sure, many were first-hand witnesses of Messiah's crucifiction, death, and resurrection. However, following is what Messiah told those first-hand witnesses:[Luke 24:44 KJV] And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. [45] Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, [46] And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: [47] And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. [48] And ye are witnesses of these things.And this is the gospel that Paul preached:[1 Cor 15:1 NIV] Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. [2] By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. [3] For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,This is where my serious religious life began: upon the fulfillment of scriptures. We just read that "according to the scriptures" was Paul's foundational message. Once we firmly establish this principle in our minds, many other doctrines that have been misunderstood or mistaught become clear.

John and Peter were first-hand witnesses. When John recounted what happened the Sunday morning that they found out that Messiah had been resurrected, he wrote:[John 20:6 KJV] Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, [7] And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. [8] Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. [9] For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.He was saying, "You know, if Peter and I had known that particular scripture, we wouldn't have had to run all that way and go into the sepulchre in order to believe. To another first-hand witness, Messiah said:[John 20:29 KJV] [Messiah] saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.We can believe without having been there first-hand; we can also be Messiah's witnesses.

With love and peace,

cook

02-17-2002, 02:02 PM

hello hyssop:

Just a few comments on your last post.

Hyssop wrote: Who were these witnesses? Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sara, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab . . .
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Heb 11:32 KJV] And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hashem has given the world many witnesses. Messiah, too, left witnesses behind.

Jay's Comment: The subject of Heb 11 is, of course, faith.

The way in which all of the men and women mentioned above are WITNESSES is described by Paul in verses 2 and 4.

2. for by it (faith) the men of old OBTAINED A RIGHTEOUS REPORT.
4. By faith Abel offered to Yahweh a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, because of which it was TESTIFIED of him that he was righteous, YAHWEH TESTIFYING of his gifts; AND THROUGH IT, HE BEING DEAD, YET SPEAKS (WITNESSES)

So what Paul is saying here about ALL OF THESE WITNESSES is that since Yah HIMSELF is testifying about them through the pages of the scriptures, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE DEAD, THEY ARE SPEAKING AS WITNESSES.

Hyssop, next you quote 2Tim 2:2

2 And the things that thou hast heard of (3844)(from) me among (1223)(by) many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. {among: or, by}

Jay's Comment: What confuses the meaning of this scripture are the words "of" which is the grk preposition "para" which means "from"; and "among" which is the grk preposition "dia" which means "through" or "by".

So Paul is saying here that: many witnesses have heard PAUL saying certain things, and have related them to Timothy.

Finally, Yah is very strict and concise about witnesses in the Law.

Deuteronomy 19:15 One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

This law means that TWO WITNESSES ESTABLISHES TRUTH.

That is why PERJURY (false witness) is one of the 24 Sins that exact the DEATH PENALTY (capital crime). (Dt 19:15-21)

You won't find one mention in the scriptures of the word "witness" or "witnesses" where the witness didn't in fact actually SEE or HEAR what they were witnessing.

So, due to the penalty or being a false witness, I wouldn't claim to be a witness of anything I didn't personally see or hear!

simcha

02-17-2002, 07:25 PM

Jay,

As you will see in the following verse, that the witness may have seen or may have knowledge of the thing he is witnessing to.

Lev. 5:5:1 'Now if a person sins, after he hears a public adjuration to testify, when he is a witness, whether he has seen or otherwise known, if he does not tell it, then he will bear his guilt.

Also, if you will look at the following verse, there are two different greek words for witness used in this one verse. Both can be used without being an eye witness.

1 John 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for the witness of God is this, that He has borne witness concerning His Son.
G3141. marturia, from G3140; witness, testimony:-- reputation(1), testimony(18), witness(18). from the root word G3140. marturew, from G3144; to bear witness, testify:-- bear witness(24), bearing witness(3), bears(1), bears witness(7), bore witness(5), borne(1), borne witness(6), gained approval(m)(2), good reputation(1), having a reputation(1), obtained the testimony(1), obtained the witness(1), received a testimony(1), speaking well(1), testified(5), testifies(1), testify(6), testifying(1), well spoken of(3), witness(1), witnessed(4).

G3140. marturew, from G3144; to bear witness, testify:-- bear witness(24), bearing witness(3), bears(1), bears witness(7), bore witness(5), borne(1), borne witness(6), gained approval(m)(2), good reputation(1), having a reputation(1), obtained the testimony(1), obtained the witness(1), received a testimony(1), speaking well(1), testified(5), testifies(1), testify(6), testifying(1), well spoken of(3), witness(1), witnesse

I very muchly disagree with you that we cannot be witnesses. We are witnesses through faith and through the testimony of the Holy Spirit.

simcha

cook

02-18-2002, 07:33 AM

Hi Simcha:

I'm encouraged by your last post, that you are trying to use scripture for your argument; but let's construe (analyze) Lev 5:1 as to the intent of the Lawgiver (Yah).

Lev 5:1 is the basic law given by Yah himself which defines NEGLIGENCE and PERSONAL LIABILITY. Rather than copy it from the KJV again, here it is in today's English.

5:1 If a person sins because he does not speak up when he hears a public charge, to testify regarding something he has seen, or knows about: he will be held responsible.

Yah himself, will hold us personally accountable for not STANDING UP FOR OUR NEIGHBOR. This is the fulfillment of the ROYAL LAW (James 2:8).

Lev 5:1 also helps define what 'LOVE' (agape) is. It is not a "warm, fuzzy, feeling" but practicing LAW (nomos). When I testify at his trial, either for or against him (in truth), I am loving my neighbors. I also submit, that my not being jealous of my neighbor because his car is better than mine (coveting) is LOVE. I submit, that not thinking his wife is "hot" when I see her across the fence (coveting) is LOVE.

Your reference to "Marturia (3140) and Marturew (3141) are both derived from the root word Martus (3144) which means:
1) a witness
1a) in a legal sense
1b) an historical sense (one who saw or heard in times past)
1b1) one who is a spectator of anything, e.g. of a contest

A person who gives testimony is always a witness, but a person who is a witness does not necessarily always give testimony. (ie. You saw that your son wet the bed but you didn't tell anyone)

"Martus" is the word where our english word "martyr" is derived from but is really a misnomer (it's used 3 times in scripture) and witness or testimony should have been rendered. (It would have expanded the meaning)

Finally, Simcha, you said: I very muchly disagree with you that we cannot be witnesses. We are witnesses through faith and through the testimony of the Holy Spirit.

Jay's comment: Your opinion is good religion but BAD LAW (NOMOS)

I object, your honor (Messiah); heresay; the witness has no factual basis (scripture) for his testimony.

If you ever hope to judge angels, you better learn the Law (Nomos).

cook

02-18-2002, 09:23 AM

Hello all:

The purpose of this post is to exhort you all to act as the "elect" of Yah. The gate is narrow and only a few will find it. I hope that you all have the eyes to see it. The "ELECT" are not going to be "voted" in by men, but will be ELECTED by Yah himself. The purpose of His Election is to be RULERS, FOREVER, of His Kingdom. If you will study the book of Judges, you will see that His rulers are JUDGES (priests), who will decide all disputes, even between angels. The only basis we will judge by, will be the EVERLASTING LAW contained in these scriptures.

A case in point, is that of Baruk, who was eluded to as one of men Paul referred to as a WITNESS through Yah's testimony (scripture) (Judges 4,5). In verse one it states that Israel once again was doing evil in the eyes of Yah. There were NO MEN to be LEADERS (rulers, practicing the Law) so Yah raised up a woman, (Deborah) to motivate the true leaders. Yah then sold them into the hands of the Canaanites. Deborah, then cajoled Barak to take a stand and fight. The result, you all know, but the "moral" of the story is given in the SONG they sang in ch 5. 5:7 - The warriors grew plump, and finally through Barak, in verse 9, the leaders (men) finally rose up and offered themselves willingly with the people and destroyed the GOVERNMENT (a type of Babylon) and this resulted in peace for 40 years (a very short time).

Today, the men of this nation HAVE GROWN PLUMP (stupid) and they are only interested in going to their sports events, where they STAND UP (make a stand, grk: stasis) and PLEDGE (make a vow, oath {violation of James 5:12}) to a foreign flag and government, which is the modern day Whore of Babylon. (the U.S. is foreign and domiciled in Wash D.C., [not a state but a foreign corporation])(violation of Ex 23:32).

The ELECT though, have their citizenship FROM heaven (the Israel of Yah) and are strangers and sojourners who are strict practitioners of the Law of Moses.

There are a few hundred that I have heard about. One man I know, who has kept the feasts for decades, went before (grk stasis) the Supreme Court (Pro Se), and won for the called out ones, the right to not swear and oath when called to testify (Gordon vs Idaho).

It's time to cease from "practicing religion" and to "live by every word of Yah". We only have a few short years!!

ImAHebrew

02-19-2002, 02:42 AM

Shalom Cook,

I have asked Hyssop if it would be permissible that I impose on his discussion here, and he has done so. (I originally was going to stay just on the two forums that I moderate, but this discussion has great interest for me.)

We also have our beginning within the WWCG, and a small group of us were disfellowshipped over 20 years ago because of doctrinal issues. At the time, Passover was the main issue, but one of the other issues revolved around how "we" are also True Witnesses to the death, burial, and resurrection of Yahshua. Hyssop has already made several statements that may not have been understood as fully as they should. He pointed out how the Apostle John recounted what happened when both Peter and himself ran to the tomb to see if someone had stolen the dead body of Yahshua. It took John seeing the strips of linen and the head cloth lying separately, before he believed that someone didn't steal His body, and that He truly did rise from the dead. But John places a parenthetical afterthought, and there is a very important reason why he did so. His afterthought here states: "For as yet they knew not the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead." John was writing of his and Peter's experience many years after it actually happened. He knew that there would be many who would read, and be very surprised that Peter and himself had to run to the tomb that morning. Why? Because the Gospel that was preached, was according to the Scripture that He must rise from the dead. The vast many who believed were believers because of what was written, not because they acutally saw Yahshua after He rose. And it would only be logical to John that those thousands would be asking, "Why did you and Peter have to run to the tomb to believe, when we have believed through what was written?" All those believers were witnesses of Yahshua's resurrection, through what was written.

The same day that John and Peter ran to the tomb, Yahshua met with two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They did not recognize Him at first. It was only after He opened their minds to what was written that they did recognize Him. The point is, when Yahshua opens a believers mind to the Scriptures which testify to His death, burial, and 3rd day resurrection, then they too become a true witness to what happened.

Jay, the testimony of the Scripture concerning the death, burial, and the 3rd day resurrection of Yahshua which was delivered unto the Saints, was lost. This testimony is required by the Torah to be witnessed to by two or more witnesses before it is established. The first Assembly gave it's testimony, and then died. A second witness is required, and that second witness will have the same testimony of the Scriptures that demand Yahshua's resurrection. Have you been blessed with having your mind "opened" to those Scriptures which do testify of Yahshua's death, burial, and 3rd day resurrection? If you have, then you are also a true witness.

Blessings in The Name,
ImAHebrew

simcha

02-19-2002, 05:54 PM

Just a short post.

1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
7 that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the

revelation of Jesus Christ;
8 and though you have not seen Him,you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

We have not "seen" Him, yet we love Him and we believe in Him and are therefore witness of Him by following His teaching.

Simcha

cook

02-19-2002, 07:09 PM

Hello all:
I have a few days of business to conduct, but intend on responding to I'maHebrew's post. In fact, I read it very early this morning, and while enroute to my destination this morning I kept meditating about it and CONTINUALLY drove past the exits I was supposed to take and had to backtrack several times. I also wasted (used up) a lot of time pulling over and writing notes.

So, I blame you Hebrew!! (Ha)

ImAHebrew

02-20-2002, 02:41 AM

Shalom Cook,

I know exactly what you mean, I've been there and done that. In fact, I was trying to think of a better way in which I could have related what I was trying to say to you in my previous post. You know, when I related to you about the two on the road to Emmaus, I needed to bring out something a little more clearly. Those two disciples had the resurrected Messiah standing before them, and they couldn't "see" Him as such. Even with Him standing before them, they could not "witness" to His resurrection UNTIL they had their minds "opened" to "see" His death, burial, and 3rd day resurrection, as it is "written" in Scripture. Their hearts burned within them as Yahshua opened their minds to understand what was written, and that is when they truly became witnesses of His death, burial, and 3rd day resurrection. Hope this helps to further clarify and make your driving time a little better focused. :)

Blessings in The Name,
ImAHebrew

cook

02-21-2002, 06:08 PM

Hello all,

Hebrew, Judah, during Apostles' time, were awaiting the arrival of the Messiah. (In fact, the jews are still awaiting it). They had no national belief that there were TWO "ADVENTS". The apostles even asked Messiah if he "would establish the kingdom at this time". They were also jockeying for positions at his right hand. The scriptures weren't clear to them that His death was required even though they lived the sacrificial system.

They also thought that Messiah would set up the kingdom and then call the gentiles. They didn't even understand the scripture that Messiah wouldn't see corruption.

So, I don't know why anyone would be surprised, as you said, that Peter and all ran to the tomb. If we study the the 4 gospels, they are EACH a witness (only two required) of the death, burial and ressurection of Messiah.

What most people don't realize in the structure of the gospels, is that they were 4 witnesses that:
1. The kingdom was proclaimed to Judah
2. That Messiah was their king
3. That their King was rejected
4. That the Kingdom was rejected

All four gospels witness the above points.

I've decided to not belabor the scriptural definition of "witness".
Either you believe the torah or you don't (Deut 19:15-20)

Simcha, really hits the crux of the issue in his last post (1Pet), although he doesn't understand it. Those of us who didn't witness Messiah and have BELIEF- i.e. FAITH - ARE BLESSED BECAUSE WE BELIEVE WHAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN THROUGH THE TESTIMONY OF WITNESSES!(apostles) (Jn 20:29) If it weren't for the testimony and witness of the apostles, neither you nor I would believe that Messiah had come. If it were second hand information from someone whom hadn't actually seen it, I wouldn't believe (faith) it. "When the son of man cometh, shall he find faith on earth?"

ImAHebrew

02-24-2002, 03:52 AM

Shalom Cook,

I do feel a closeness to you though our familiar background, so do not think that I am trying to be harsh on you, but we do have a differing opinion of what a True Witness should be. If you could, try to look at the demands of the Torah from Yahweh's perspective. When He established that a judgment or matter could not be determined unless it was at the mouth of two or three witnesses, try to think along the lines of judging the whole course of mankind (this present age). When one starts to look at the seven days (7 thousand years) that Yahweh has allocated for this age, one should realize that if Yahweh is going to enter into judgment with mankind, at some point within this present age, two or three witnesses would have been required to come forth to make a rather significant testimony. I look at the testimony of the early Apostles as ONE witness. Their collective writings and testimony is but one witness when you look at the BIG picture of Yahweh's plan. I also believe that another witness is required. There can be no collaboration between the two witnesses, and that is why Yahweh has separated them and allowed their testimony to take place on different days of His week (different millennia). Their testimony has to be identical, and IF their testimony is based upon the Spiritual fulfillment of the Torah (the death, burial, and 3rd day resurrection as written by Moshe), then they both are True Witnesses of Eternal Life.John 5:39-40&46-47 39 "You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me; 40 and you are unwilling to come to Me, that you may have life....46 "For if you believed Moshe, you would believe Me; for he wrote of Me. 47 "But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?"

1 John 5:9-13 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of Elohim is greater; for the witness of Elohim is this, that He has borne witness concerning His Son. 10 The one who believes in the Son of Elohim has the witness in himself; the one who does not believe Elohim has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the witness that Elohim has borne concerning His Son. 11 And the witness is this, that Elohim has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of Elohim does not have the life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of Elohim, in order that you may know that you have eternal life.Jay, the True Witness that Yahweh Elohim has borne is Eternal Life, and that Eternal Life was prophesied by Moshe. Those who have had their minds opened to understand the death, burial, and 3rd day resurrection of Yahshua, as written by Moshe, are True Witnesses of Eternal Life. This testimony is required by the Torah to be given by two or three witnesses. We hope to be part of one of those witnesses, for we have seen the death, burial, and 3rd day resurrection of Yahshua, as written by Moshe....have you?

Blessings in The Name,
ImAHebrew

P.S. I just wanted to add that I do agree with what Simcha wrote also:We have not "seen" Him, yet we love Him and we believe in Him and are therefore witness of Him by following His teaching.

cook

02-24-2002, 07:42 AM

Hello Hebrew:

You said: for we have seen the death, burial, and 3rd day resurrection of Yahshua, as written by Moshe....have you?

Jay's comment: Please give me the scriptures by Moshe concerning the death, burial, and 3rd day resurrection of Messiah.

ImAHebrew

02-25-2002, 03:26 PM

Shalom Cook,

I will try to give you a shortened version, for I have found that long posts prove to be a little boring.

The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Cor 15:1-4 that he passed on what he had received as of first importance, namely, the death, burial, and 3rd day resurrection of Yahshua. The Gospel of these events, which he received, were all according to what was written in the Scriptures. With that being said, according to the physical keeping of the Torah, there is a set of Scriptures, written by Moshe, that is of first importance also, which requires their accomplishment before any fellowship with Yahweh can occur. This set of Scriptures is used to cleanse from the defilement of death, and to separate a sinner from their sin. It is the set of Scriptures involving the ritual of the Red Heifer.

The first phrase written at the beginning of this ritual is unique. This phrase is only used twice in all of the Torah (Num 19:2 & 31:21)--"This is the Statute of the Torah." The Jewish people have recognized the significance of this phrase, and this is why they believe that before any temple worship can be performed, the priesthood mush follow this cleansing ritual. This is also why such importance has been placed upon finding the ashes of the last red heifer, or finding a new red heifer that qualifies for this ritual. This ritual is of first importance in establishing worship at the physical temple, it is also of first importance in establishing the true Spiritual worship in Yahshua's Body, the Temple of Elohim.

In having one's mind opened to "see" the death, burial, and 3rd day resurrection of Yahshua, as written by Moshe, one must "see" the symbolism or shadow of the Torah. In looking at the ritual of the red heifer, similarities between the physical red heifer and it's burning, with the suffering of Yahshua, should become apparent as they are pointed out. Let's look at several of them.

1. The red heifer was burned outside the camp (v 3 & 5):Hebrews 13:11-12 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Yahshua also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.2. The ashes of the heifer were gathered by a clean person (v 9):Luke 23:50-52 50 And behold, a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man 51 (he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of Elohim; 52 this man went to Pilate and asked for the body (ashes) of Yahshua.Comment: Yahshua's suffering outside the city gate is a Spiritual fulfillment of "burning" the sacrifice. When something is burned, ashes are what remain. In the "burning" of Yahshua, His dead body is what remained. Joseph was a clean man, and he gathered the dead body of Yahshua.

3. The ashes of the red heifer are to be placed outside the camp in a ceremonially clean place (v 9 also):John 19:41 41 Now in the place where He was crucified (outside the camp) there was a garden; and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been laid (a ceremonially clean place).4. The ashes are to also be placed in a vessel (v 17), and the tomb was cut out of solid rock, which qualifies as a vessel:Mark 15:46 46 And Joseph bought a linen cloth, took Him down, wrapped Him in the linen cloth, and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.5. Any open vessel is unclean (v 15), and what happened to the tomb?:"and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb."6. Now, here is where it really gets interesting. Living water is to be added to the ashes of the red heifer in the vessel (v 17). We know what the ashes represent (Yahshua's dead body). We know what the vessel represents (the tomb). Just what is the Living Water that is added to the dead body of Yahshua in the grave?:Jeremiah 2:13 13 "For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns, That can hold no water.

Jeremiah 17:13 13 O Yahweh the hope of Israel, All who forsake Thee will be put to shame. Those who turn away on earth will be written down, Because they have forsaken the fountain of living water, even Yahweh.

John 4:10-14 10 Yahshua answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of Elohim (Rom 6:23), and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." 11 She said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? 12 "You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself, and his sons, and his cattle?" 13 Yahshua answered and said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst again; 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

John 7:38-39 38 "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.'" 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Yahshua was not yet glorified.Living water is Eternal Life in Yahweh Elohim. He is the fount of living water, He is the source of Eternal Life, and He has given us of His life THROUGH the Spirit. This Eternal Living Spirit was added to the dead body of Yahshua while He was dead in the vessel of the tomb.

7. The unclean are to be sprinkled with the ashes of the red heifer, by a clean man using hyssop, on the 3rd and 7th days (v 19):Luke 24:21 21 "But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened.

Luke 24:25-27 25 And He said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 "Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?" 27 And beginning with Moshe and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. Yahshua KNEW he would rise on the third day because it is commanded in the Torah that a "clean" man sprinkle the unclean with "hyssop," on the third day. Hyssop is symbolic for correction/rebuke...you spank with hyssop. Yahshua spanked His disciples verbally, for not believing all that the Prophets had spoken. Yahshua was also the ONLY clean man, everyone one else had come into contact with Him in His death, and He was the only clean man by virtue of His resurrection. Life cleanses from death.

The process of being purified from the defilement of death, and being separated from one's sin, is fulfilled in our lives through the suffering, death, and resurrection of the Messiah. Once this Gospel (His death, burial, and 3rd day resurrection) has been sprinkled upon a sinner (the unclean), they are to wash (be baptized) v. 19, and they are to be separated from their sin (be clean). This is the Gospel "according to the Scriptures," as written by Moshe.

I hope this helps you to understand the witness that we hope to be part of Jay.

Blessings in The Name,
ImAHebrew